Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the completion of Operation Mitten Catcher, an international law enforcement investigation that prevented the illegal import of approximately 15,525 live Chinese mitten crabs into the U.S.
Mitten crabs are considered a culinary delicacy in Asia and are smuggled into the U.S. in mass quantities in preparation for Chinese New Year and other cultural events. With the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Environment and Climate Change Canada, Service wildlife inspectors seized the crabs at U.S. express hubs and major international airports. Smugglers had falsely declared the shipments as 100% polyester gowns, plastic molds, plastic storage bags and other commercial products.
“Chinese mitten crabs pose a significant threat to humans, the environment and our economy,” said Edward Grace, Assistant Director of the Service’s Office of Law Enforcement. “I would like to thank U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Environment and Climate Change Canada for their assistance with this operation. Together, we can help combat invasive species and end the illegal wildlife trade.”
Chinese mitten crabs are one of North America’s most invasive species and pose a serious threat to humans and the environment. In high densities, they can cause a number of problems including out‐competing native species for food and space; undermining flood levees; causing stream bank erosion; clogging screens, pumps and water intake structures at fish collection facilities and power plants; and hurting commercial and recreational fishing industries by consuming bait, damaging fishing nets and devouring catch.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Clamps Down on the Illegal Mitten Crab Trade
Mitten crabs are considered a culinary delicacy in Asia and are smuggled into the U.S. in mass quantities in preparation for Chinese New Year and other cultural events. With the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Environment and Climate Change Canada, Service wildlife inspectors seized the crabs at U.S. express hubs and major international airports. Smugglers had falsely declared the shipments as 100% polyester gowns, plastic molds, plastic storage bags and other commercial products.
“Chinese mitten crabs pose a significant threat to humans, the environment and our economy,” said Edward Grace, Assistant Director of the Service’s Office of Law Enforcement. “I would like to thank U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Environment and Climate Change Canada for their assistance with this operation. Together, we can help combat invasive species and end the illegal wildlife trade.”
Chinese mitten crabs are one of North America’s most invasive species and pose a serious threat to humans and the environment. In high densities, they can cause a number of problems including out‐competing native species for food and space; undermining flood levees; causing stream bank erosion; clogging screens, pumps and water intake structures at fish collection facilities and power plants; and hurting commercial and recreational fishing industries by consuming bait, damaging fishing nets and devouring catch.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Clamps Down on the Illegal Mitten Crab Trade